WISCONSIN ACADEMY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Executive Director
• NADN Executive Staff Member

Job Titles:

• Diplomate Member / a Neutral View, LLC
• Impartial Hearing Officer

Chuck Kahn serves as Arbitrator, Impartial Hearing Officer, Special Master or Referee for business disputes of all sorts, as well as estate and probate issues and other matters appropriate for binding arbitration. Chuck is known for thorough preparation, careful, listening and a calm but energetic approach resolution in every situation. Decisions are written in plain language with a thorough explanation of the final outcome and award.

Jeff Conen joined Hansen Reynolds LLC in 2020 after a 23-year career as a Milwaukee County Circuit Judge, in which he presided over 400 jury trials in both civil and criminal cases. Prior to serving as a Circuit Judge, Jeff was elected Municipal Judge in the City of Glendale and was in private practice, handling a variety of civil and criminal litigation matters. His extensive background as a judge and experience in private practice gives Jeff the unique ability to see the parties' needs and interests from a neutral position in a wide variety of legal areas. Jeff has served on the faculty for the Office of Judicial Education for over 25 years and has taught judges in the areas of evidence, alternative dispute resolution, domestic violence and a variety of civil litigation matters. This, combined with his years on the bench, has given him the foundation needed to consult on effective trial presentation, evidentiary analysis, and jury selection. Jeff's practice concentrates on mediations, arbitration, trial and jury consulting, and general civil litigation. He has a passion for finding alternative ways to resolve disputes in a quick and cost effective manner.

Patrick Fiedler's diverse legal career includes service as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, 18 years as a Dane County Circuit Judge, and President of the State Bar of Wisconsin. As a lawyer, he has tried over 60 jury trials, and as a judge he has presided over more than 150 juries. Since returning to the private practice of law in late 2011, he has served as a mediator and arbitrator in over 650 different cases. Additionally, he has represented numerous individuals in both civil and criminal cases as a trial lawyer. Patrick also has served as an independent investigator for both public entities and private organizations. As a mediator, Patrick's practice is to: "Prepare, listen and then evaluate." At trial, his practice is to: "Focus on the issues from a jury's perspective. Then present your case accordingly." To date, Patrick has mediated or arbitrated cases involving § 1983 claims, police misconduct, personal injury, products liability, attorney malpractice, accounting malpractice, errors and omissions insurance, various issues relating to insurance coverage, construction disputes, breakups of law firms and accounting firms, attorney theft, condemnation (eminent domain), trust and estate disputes, fraudulent sales, vehicle warranties, home warranties, open records law, theft of funds, employment, employee theft, wage and salary, business disputes, loan disputes, land contracts, discrimination, nuisance, defamation, property development, land disputes, home remediation, contracts (real estate and other contracts), commercial foreclosures, air pollution, and condominium disputes.

Job Titles:

• Member of the State Committee
• Founding Partner in the Brookfield

Jim Smith is a founding partner in the Brookfield, Wisconsin-based firm of Smith & Rowen. Mr. Smith specializes in Personal Injury, Contract Disputes, Life and Disability Policy Disputes and Transactions litigation. Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Smith spent 16 years with the Milwaukee-based law firm of Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen. In his capacity there, he tried numerous personal injury, commercial, business and contract cases.

Job Titles:

• Adjunct Professor at Marquette Law School
• Member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

In addition to her mediation practice, Jill is an Adjunct Professor at Marquette Law School, where she teaches law students how to effectively advocate for their clients in a "Mediation Advocacy" workshop. Jill has also co-taught a "Negotiation" workshop, and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee's School of Continuing Education where she teaches Human Resource professionals on conducting investigations and employment law basics. Jill is a frequent speaker on topics involving mediation, with a particular focus on avoiding and resolving conflict and litigation

Job Titles:

• Administrator
• NADN Executive Staff Member

Job Titles:

• Shareholder With the Milwaukee

Mike Crooks is a shareholder with the Milwaukee firm of von Briesen & Roper, s.c., and runs the Madison office. His practice includes insurance defense, medical malpractice, products liability, breach of contract, and third-party recovery. He has held many titles, including Dane County's Top Lawyers (2002-03, 2005 and 2007-2018), Board Certified Trial Lawyer, Super Lawyer (2006-2022), Best Lawyers in America (2007-2023), President of WDC (2005-2006) as well as long time member of Wisconsin Defense Counsel and former Board member. He was formerly Treasurer of the James E. Doyle Inn of Courts. He is a special investigator for the Office of Lawyer Regulation, was appointed Court Commissioner by Judge Markson and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocacy (ABOTA). He is admitted to practice in all Wisconsin State and Federal Courts and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell.

Job Titles:

• Member of the State Committee

Job Titles:

• NADN Executive Staff Member
• Accounts ( Semi - Retired )

Job Titles:

• Member of the State Committee

Job Titles:

• Research Institute Civil Trial Counsel

Job Titles:

• IT Manager
• NADN Executive Staff Member